As President meets with Crown Prince, Shahin fears the worst. Will favoritism win out in the U.A.E. justice system?

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- While U.S. President Obama met with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, over lunch at the White House on Wednesday, June 27, 2012, U.S. citizen Zack Shahin entered week seven of his hunger strike in a Dubai prison cell.

As President Obama and Crown Prince Nahyan "strengthened military alliances and discussed the importance of protecting critical shipping lanes against threats of aggression, terrorism, and piracy," their voices rang silent about due process and fair treatment for Zack Shahin.  Zack continues his hunger strike because his government in Washington will not challenge the Crown Prince on Dubai's refusal to grant his immediate and reasonable bail and a fair and open trial after over four years of imprisonment.

The joint U.S.-U.A.E. statement issued following the bilateral meeting "…called on governments and citizens alike to avoid violence, advance tolerance, and protect human rights – particularly the rights of women."  What about the rights of Zack Shahin?  After Dubai's slap in the face to the U.S. Department of State, by ignoring three of its diplomatic notes seeking due process for Zack Shahin, not a word was mentioned about Zack publicly by President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton, or any other senior U.S. government official. Not a word was whispered about Zack's rights to immediate and reasonable bail and a trial to prove his innocence, after being denied these alleged rights under U.A.E. law.  Also as Congressional leaders and the Chairwoman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs met with the Crown Prince, not a word was raised on Zack Shahin's behalf, despite Zack's case being known to Ambassadors, Senators, Representatives, and Congressional staffers.

U.S. legal counsel for Zack Shahin stated:

"Zack once again is seen as a sacrificial lamb for a country, too arrogant to admit that no one person is to blame for their economic downturns.  So the culture creates its scapegoats by blaming non-Emiratis, with no regard for the fact that persons such as Zack Shahin contributed to the great success of Deyaar Development and the Dubai economy."

Zack Shahin has been on a hunger strike since May 14 to protest American officials' failure to speak out publicly on his behalf and call on U.A.E. to grant his immediate and reasonable bail. Don't let Zack become politically expendable. As Zack's health continues to decline, as he is now showing signs of the serious side-effects that accompany the lack of nourishment, all he asks for is due process under Dubai law and a chance to prove his innocence. For more information, please visit www.FreeZack.com.

U.S. legal counsel to Zack Shahin are: Jim Jatras, Rebekah Poston, and Eric Akers.

CONTACT: Darren Spinck of Global Strategic Communications Group at 202-669-4418, [email protected]

SOURCE U.S. Legal Counsel for Zack Shahin